Other Opportunities

If you are a University of Southampton student, there are a range of short term paid placement opportunities available through the Excel Southampton Placement Programme. For more information please click here

About the Students' Union

The University of Southampton Students' Union (SUSU) is the representative body for all of the 23,000 students who study at the University of Southampton. Our work is extensive and is guided by the following five aims.

Promoting the interests and welfare of members at the University of Southampton during their course of study and representing, supporting and advising members;

Being the recognised representative channel between members and the University and any other external bodies;

Providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its members;

Promoting and facilitating students' involvement in their wider community;

Raising funds for other charitable organisations.

The Students' Union is an autonomous organisation, with its own governances, finances and employees. We work independently of the University, although we receive invaluable grant income from them each year. The Union has recently registered as a charity and incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. Seven full-time student officers (sabbaticals) are elected annually from the student body to work full time to lead and direct the organisation and to represent the students. They in turn support 30 Student Leaders who directly lead various activity areas of the Union. Our trustee board is made up of six sabbaticals, 6 students and 4 external trustees.

The wide range of services the Students' Union runs includes the well-established Advice Centre, which provides comprehensive and professional advice and advocacy for all University students. The Union supports over 70 sports clubs and more than 150 societies covering a whole spectrum of sports and special interest societies and has developed a significant number of opportunities for students to undertake volunteering work with the local community. Students run various campaigns through the Union on issues such as Higher Education Funding cuts, tuition fees, health awareness and housing advice. We also support a highly successful course representative scheme.

Our commercial operations provide important services to our members and generate valuable funds to allow the Union to fulfill its purpose. Trading turnover is more than £4m pa, so is a significant part of our activity. The range is also substantial with 10 bars (including our own nightclub), a large shop, a cinema, 3 catering outlets and a range of tenants, including a hairdressing salon.

To support all of these activities and areas, the Union has an established staff team of over 100 and more than 300 temporary and student staff. The Students' Union recognises its responsibilities as an employer. This means that our basic employment practices are designed to provide a rewarding environment for everyone who works within the Union.

Significantly, the Students' Union is a genuinely student led organisation. As well as our trustees more than 1,000 of our members are active in leadership roles within our various activities.

About the University, City and Area

The University of Southampton is a world-class university, located on the outskirts of Southampton in Hampshire.

Built around the docks, located in the heart of the south coast and just an hour outside of London, Southampton really is a great place to live and work. It is located to the east of the New Forest, is the gateway to the Isle of Wight and to the west of the South Downs.

We've chosen a couple of websites to help you get a feel for the university, the city and the surrounding area. We hope you find them useful: